Hamburg is quickly becoming one of the most on-trend destinations for European travellers, with its nightlife often being touted as a one-of-a-kind experience. The Reeperbahn is the main selling point of Hamburg with many tourists visiting the area to drink and dance at some of the city’s most famous bars and clubs. The summer attracts a lot of foot traffic, but it’s the winter time that is often the best time to visit with Oktoberfest and the Christmas markets being the highlights.
While it’s recommended to visit Hamburg, you need to ensure that it’s within your budget. It’s not known to be a particularly cheap destination, especially in the city centre, so you need to ensure that you’re in the know about how much everything costs. This can help you to plan your journey more effectively and allow you to properly enjoy the experience.
In this guide, we will explore the popular destination of Hamburg and give you insight into how expensive it is. We’ll provide you with a cost breakdown, so continue reading to find out more.
Accommodation
Depending on the type of trip you want, there’s a good variety of cheap and expensive options for places to stay in Hamburg. Most travellers choose to stay in a hostel, providing you with the best budget experience. Hostel beds cost around €20 to €30 per night and are perfect for meeting like-minded travellers.
Alternatively, if you’re travelling to Hamburg as a couple, you can choose to stay in a budget double room for just under €100 per night or you can upgrade to a mid-range hotel for around €150 per night. There’s also luxury hotels throughout Hamburg that will give you a more premium experience. These can be over €250 per night, so they’re not for anyone looking to save a little bit of money while travelling.
Food & Dining
There’s many food options available in Hamburg. While your mind might drift instantly to the hamburger, there’s much more to this wonderful city than that. You can find a lot of street food vendors around Hamburg who sell a range of different food types, including currywursts and fish rolls that cost between €4 and €8. There’s something for everyone, so don’t be afraid to browse all of the options.
If you’re having a casual lunch, this generally costs around €12 to €20 per person while mid-range dinners can cost you up to €40, depending on what you order. For your first few days, try to be frugal with your meals before splashing out further into your trip.
Nightlife & Entertainment
Since Hamburg is famous for its nightlife and Germany for its beer, it’s crucial that this is broken down properly to give you the best experience. Local craft beer ranges from cheap to expensive in Hamburg, depending on where you go. Some pubs and bars have pints for around €3.50, which is a bargain compared to the UK. However, the most popular places can charge upwards of €7 for a pint.
The main nightlife attraction in Hamburg is the Reeperbahn. Access to the Reeperbahn street itself is free of charge, but you will pay varying prices for venues, drinks and entertainment once you arrive. You can purchase tickets for pub crawls that cost around €20 to €30 and include free entry to bars and multiple free drinks.
Transportation
Getting around Hamburg is really easy if you know about all of the transportation options available to you. Train tickets are very affordable and cost around €4 for a trip, which is ideal if you’re travelling from the airport to the city centre. You can also get a day pass for around €8.50 if you’re going to multiple locations in Hamburg within a day.
Renting a bicycle is a sustainable travel choice for those who want to get around Hamburg safely. These are very cost-effective, as they can cost around €0.10 per minute.
Gifts & Memorabilia
Hamburg offers a fantastic variety of local souvenirs, ranging from maritime keepsakes to collectibles that will forever help you to remember your trip. There’s many personalised gifts that you can purchase, so you can have the perfect thing to give to your partner, friends or family back home. You won’t have to spend too much, as you’ll be able to find suitable gifts for under €10 or you can splash the cash if you really want.
For food or music fans, Hamburg’s famous St. Pauli district provides a completely different vibe, as it has a huge collection of football club merchandise and music history memorabilia to buy.
Final Thoughts
Hamburg offers a great balance of things to do for travellers. The local area gives you so much to enjoy, helping you to have a memorable experience that respects your budget and avoids any overspending. Whether focusing on the city’s vibrant cultural scene or its unique history, your visit can be one that you never forget if you follow our budgeting advice.
Priya Ravinder
Devleena Nath
Walking Dead
